A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way Of Life

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The Bodhicharyavatara, sometimes glossed as A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life, is a famous Buddhist text written by Shantideva, around year 700. It has ten chapters dedicated to the development of an enlightened mind through the so called six perfections. The book also describes the benefits of the wish to reach enlightenment.

[edit] Chapter summary

Chapter one: the benefits of the wish to reach full enlightenment for others
Chapter two: purifying bad deeds
Chapter three: acquiring the wish for enlightenment
Chapter four: using carefulness
Chapter five: guarding awareness
Chapter six: the practice of not getting angry
Chapter seven: the practice of joyous effort
Chapter eight: the practice of meditative concentration
Chapter nine: wisdom
Chapter ten: dedication

Many Tibetan scholars wrote commentaries on this text, for example:

Entry Point for the Children of The Victorious Buddhas, by Gyaltsab Je
- In Tibetan: rgyal sras 'jug ngogs

[edit] Translations available

by Kate Crosby and Andrew Skilton, with commentary, ISBN 0-19-283720-6 (paperback) and ISBN 1-899579-49-4 (hardcover)
by Marion Matics (as Entering the Path of Enlightenment)
by Stephen Batchelor (as A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life)
by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
by Dr Alexander Berzin (as Engaging in Bodhisattva Behavior)